HOUSE IS ‘SOLD’ May 30, 2012

Yesterday we received the ‘email’ from our realtor we had been waiting for.  No call since where we are in Palo Dura Canyon (in Texas) and no phone service.

Let me backtrack a little.  We had an offer on the house actually before it listed on April 20th.  During the Estate Sale we had in mid April, a young couple with a toddler came to see what we had to sell.  Well, they are the ones who ended up buying the house.  As of yesterday, May 30, we no longer own the house in California! 

We are happy!!

Palo Dura Canyon, Part 2, May 31, 2012

This morning we hit the Lighthouse trail at 6:30.  It was barely daylight and we were not alone.

The Lighthouse Trail is a 6 mile round trip. 

Most of the trail is easy and level, but the last .1 mile is NOT.  It is UP HILL with los of loose gravel, not my kind of climbing.


A little ways beyond this area, I decided I could not go on, think when I slipped and landed on my keester help decide that  fact. 

Here I am working my way down the slippery slope I had just climbed up.  Why do photos never show how steep the trail really is?
Bob, aka mountain goat, went on up the trail to the top, to see the Lighthouse formations up close.


Below we were inspecting a creek bed, checking out the meeting point of the two layers.

Here is a close up of the demarcation line.

The following information is from the park brochure.  “The bottom layer, some 250 millions years old, belong to the Quartermaster Formation.   They are the bright red claystone and bands of gypsum.  Next the Tecovas Formation can be seen with its yellow, gray and lavender mudstone.  The sandstone and coarse gravel of the Trujillo Formation can be seen as you further ascent the canyon.  The next layer of rocks are from the Qgallala Formation with the sand, silt, clay and limestone.”

Bob spotted this 16” lizard, mostly tail, along the trail.  Don’t know what kind it is.

Tomorrow, headed to Borger TX where Bob worked for a few months back in 1969.

Palo Dura Canyon, Part 1, May 30, 2012

Our thirty mile drive took no time at all, soon the Canyon was before us.  I will have to admit I kept asking Bob if our exhaust brake was on and was it working during our mile drive down into canyon.  It was very steep!  See the road winding before us.

Our site #140 in Sagebrush camping area has great views of the canyon,

and we thought we would have great views out the front until, we our neighbors pulled in.

On our drive just before dusk, we spotted at least ten deer, including this one.

It was HOT in the afternoon after we arrived, at 5:40 pm it was 101.7 with humidity at 9%.

Today we left about 7:30 for an early morning hike before it got hot.  Walked about 4 miles today.  This is the sun just peeking over the canyon edge obscured by low clouds.  Was a nice 56 degrees.

On today’s hike we saw one wild turkey and several feral pigs.  Those pigs were illusive thus no photos, they did keep their distance.

All of the views were awesome.  Loved the prickly pear paddles reflecting the sun.

The painted cliffs area.

When we finished today’s hike the thermometer at the trail head registered 130 degrees in the direct sun.  We both agreed.

Tomorrow we are hiking the Lighthouse Trail, round trip 5.75 miles.  Needless to say we are leaving at sunrise when it is cool, so we can get back before we broil.

Arrived in Texas, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day…remembering those who paid for our freedom.  A special ‘Thanks’ to a Father-in-law, brother-in-law, our son, and our nieces and nephews.

From Grants we drove to Tucumcari NM for the night.  Stayed in a nice Passport America park called Cactus RV Park for full hookups 50 amp $18.95/night.  Took a nice walk last night to see a glimpse of what life was like when Route 66 ruled.

We parked next to a 5’ tree with these beautiful orchid like blooms, the host called it a desert willow.  What an amazing surprise for me.

Soon we crossed the state border into our home state of Texas.

Tonight's overnight stop is at the Oasis RV Park west of Amarillo.  Since they are about a mile from Cadillac Ranch they had to get into the action.

Here are the Cadillac's at the nearby Ranch.

There were several groups of folks repainting the cars.  It seems to be the ‘thing’ to do.  Also when you are finished painting, you just throw the can down as there were many empty spray paint cans.

You can see the build up of paint, see the drips creating their own form.

Tomorrow, we are heading to Palo Dura Canyon for a few days.

Flagstaff AZ to Grants NM, May 25, 2012

We left our site at Greer’s Pine Shadow RV park this morning at 8:15.  The forecast for today was to be windy and it did not disappoint, as this wind sock indicates.

Our drive past the Painted Desert Petrified Forest was bittersweet.  Back in 2007 & 2008 we spent several months there volunteering.  Loved every minute of it.  But this year decided not to stop.

Some scenery along I-40.



We arrived safely at the Bar S RV Park at exit 79 in Grants, NM.  Good Sam discount $16.90/night for full 50 amp hookup, great deal.

More sightseeing in Flagstaff and a day of rest, May 23-24, 2012

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument was our first stop. The last eruption was about 1,000 years ago so I was surprised to see a few flowers blooming in the barren landscape.   This penstemon was very striking against the cinders.

Some areas were covered where the lava had flowed.

I am sure this National Monument employee didn’t expect to have sidewalk sweeping as part of his job description.

Next a drive of about 25 miles to Wupatki National Monument with some very neat ruins to explore.

This one was complete with a window.

These two vessels were on display at the visitor center.  I can only imagine the excitement of the find in Feb 2009.  You just don’t ever see pots this large still intact.

The beam you see at the rear of this room has been in place for 800 years. 

We then walked to see a ball court,

and a nearby Blowhole.  Check out the link, it explains much better than I could.  All I know the cold air coming out sounded and felt like it was being forced out by a very high power fan.  The forced air was puffing out my shorts, boy did it feel great as it was a hot day.

With all the cinders around on the ground, guess what,  one or two would end up in my Keens.  Bob was Johnny on the spot for a photo.

We sure enjoyed today our brief glimpse into another culture and lifestyle, we did take the time to walk through the door and look out the window.  Great place to visit.

On the drive back to the coach, Bob had the window down.  Thought you would like to see the rest of the story!!  HeHe

5/24/12 – We extended our stay by one day so we could just rest and get caught up on things to do in the coach.  I did go through a couple of drawers and purged.  After cleaning out our stick and brick house purging is much easier.

We did go to Sam’s Club and dropped a letter off at the Post Office.  After we got back I got the buckets out and washed the windshield, front and one lower side of the coach.  I have been using the 303 Aerospace Protectant on the front of the coach for about six months now and was very pleasantly surprised,  the bugs just washed off.